There is something endearingly vulnerable and honest about Robert Svensson's music, a quality that carries through in waves on even the thinnest guitar sound or simplest of keyboard arrangements. This sincerity attracted me to Svensson's other project Mixtapes & Cellmates and, while elements of that band bleed over into his solo project, "Young punks are on the never-never" is a far more personal collection of songs, thus amplifying the very attribute that attracted me in the first place. Pair that with a stellar lineup of musical guests -- Markus Krunegård of Laakso, Adam Olenius of Shout Out Louds, Jejo Perkovic of The Bear Quartet, and Japan's Cokiyu -- and you have one of the very best albums of the year. Robert Svensson crafts some of the most original music coming out of Sweden, positioning himself as an equal alongside most of the bands one could claim influence him -- a point strongly evidenced by those who appear alongside the young songsmith on his debut solo album. Whether he croons along with Markus Krunegård on "Young enough", a track that opens like a Tom Petty creation before being assaulted with rather Scandinavian assemblage of instrumentation; raises his fantastic voice over the dance floor-ready heights of the appropriately titled "1991"; or whirls about on the choppy, far too short "Young punks", it's as though Robert Svensson can do no wrong. Since I didn't give 10s to either Aerial or Shout Out Louds, the acts who produced my two favorite albums of 2007, I can't very well give Robert Svensson a 10 here... but I am damn tempted to.- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson

The new solo album from Mixtapes & Cellmates frontman Robert Svensson"Young punks are on the never-never" is confirmed for release in Scandinavia on October 1 via Nomethod Records with Japan to follow on September 3 and Europe + North America to follow later on. Check out a short trailer: http://www.youngpunksareonthenevernever.se/
Nomethod is also giving away Robert's new single "Young enough", a duet with Markus Krunegård (Laakso). The official release isn't until September 20, but go ahead and grab it now: http://www.nomethod.se/rs_feat_krunegard_youngenough.mp3

Fridays are typically reserved for old music, but I was handed a brand new mp3 from Park Hotell yesterday afternoon and it's too good not to share. The band has a new album on the way and "Dead ringers" is the first taste of what's to come and I have to say that it's got me excited. No more synths, no more shoegazer vibes, just organic indie rock'n'roll. I definitely get a Manchester/Britpop vibe on this too and while that's not something that normally appeals to me, I fully back Park Hotell's take on it because they make it their own. Maybe it's the influence of producer Jari Haapalainen, but I'd say this has more in common with Laakso than The Smiths, though the latter is certainly a good reference point. I also hear echoes of peak-era Swedish indie such as Eggstone or The Wannadies, the sort of stuff that defined the scene back in the 90s and is rarely emulated today.

"Dead ringers" features aforementioned producer extraordinaire Jari Haapalainen on drums and fellow Swedes/sister duo Taxi, Taxi! on backup vocals. Look for the new (as yet unnamed?) album to be released this fall via BD Pop/Ultra Radio Records.

Slightly, but not entirely OT: Scottish indie favorites Camera Obscura will once again be working with producer Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet, Laakso, etc.) on their next album with Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) handling the string arrangements.

Every issue I had with Laakso's "Mother, am I good looking?" is beautifully absent from frontman Markus Krunegård's debut solo effort. The closest "Markusevangeliet" comes to disappointing is in its occasional similarity to Laakso, but, with Krunegård's band being one of the most original voices to come out of Sweden in years, there is little chance of this spoiling the record. Sadly, for those who do not speak Swedish, Krunegård's decision to sing in this Scandinavian tongue may somewhat blight the album as much of its anthemic power becomes lyrically indecipherable and the ability to sing along is removed. I truly hope this facet of "Markusevangeliet" can be surmounted by non-Swedes, and the strength of Krunegård's songwriting is impressive enough alone to help one overlook the language barrier, but it's worth listening to some of the tracks on his Myspace page to make sure you don't purchase a record that you are too distanced from. Songs like "Samma nätter väntar alla" and "Ibland gör man rätt, ibland gör man fel" are as fascinating in their songwriting and instrumentation as they are defined by Krunegård's dour, lacerating lyrics, and one can hardly fail to notice his unique timbre and delivery as almost an instrument of its own. "Se på mig nu, vad tycker du?" and "Den som dör får se/Markus kyrkogård" are two of the best compositions that Krunegård has ever done, especially when the latter enters into its final section with Krunegård singing: "Om du är rädd sluta med det. Om du är bränd och rädd lägg av med det..."

Despite all of the warnings that Laakso's impressive catalog sent out, "Markusevangeliet" affected me in a way that few records have ever been able to. Markus Krunegård may very well have crafted the best album of 2008.- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson